Program Purpose

To provide students who play taps at military funerals with a voucher for tuition reduction at certain institutions of higher education in Texas.

Eligibility Requirements

Students in grades 6 through 12 or at postsecondary educational institutions who sound "Taps" on a bugle, trumpet, or cornet during military honors funerals held in Texas for deceased veterans.

New Requirements Fall, 2014

Senate Bill 1210 (83rd Texas Legislature, Regular Session) adds a Grade Point Average requirement for persons to receive continuation awards through the program. The Bill also establishes aLimit to the Total Number of Hours, cumulative, that a student may take and continue to receive awards through this program. These changes go into effect in fall, 2014. Contact your institution for more information.

Eligible Institutions

Public and private, non-profit colleges and universities in Texas may participate in the program.

Award Amount

A voucher in the amount of $25 is issued each time a student sounds "Taps" at a military veteran’s funeral.Vouchers may be used by the student to whom they are issued to pay for tuition and fees and are not transferrable.Vouchers do not have an expiration date.

Application Process

Students contact local licensed funeral home(s) to make arrangements to provide TAPS during funerals honoring military veterans.The funeral director provides the TVCTAPS (TAPS Certification) form which is completed and signed by the student (or parent or legal guardian if the student is under the age of 18) and the funeral director following the playing of TAPS.The student or parent then submits the form to the address printed on the bottom of the form.

After receiving the TAPS Certification form, the Texas Veterans Commission will issue and mail a voucher to the student.Each voucher made out in the student’s name represents $25 reduction in tuition and fees at certain institutions of higher education in Texas.

It is the student’s responsibility to maintain a record of vouchers earned through the TAPS Tuition Voucher program.

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